A Lyrical Epiphany

Lately, I've been listening to a lot of the band The National. If you don't know of them, you should - they have a sound that just smacks with earnestness and rhythms you just can't help but hum to yourself for the rest of the day.

Even more, I love The National because their lead singer, Matt Berninger, is one of the most brilliant lyricists I've come across in the past few years. His lyrics are pure poetry. And you know how much I'm into song lyrics.

I've long been a fan of the song "Available" by The National, off of their album Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers. I had thought it was about a guy telling his woman she'd screwed up so badly in that their relationship was over. Thus, the main line of the chorus, "You just made yourself available" was, to me, the ultimate breakup line. Hooray righteous fury!

But, I was reading the lyrics the other day, and I realize I'm completely wrong. It makes sense, I guess - Berninger's lyrics are NEVER about the righteous position in a relationship. They're about the damage and insecurities.

Which is how I came to my new realization about "Available" - it's about a girl constantly making herself available for sex with a guy. That guy, on the other hand, will always accept the sex, but never give anything more, no matter how desparately she wants him. The lyrics are his disgusted comments to her about how pathetic she is. "You just made yourself available." As in, "You did this knowing full well it would end badly for you."

So intense. Take that breakup shit and shove it. This scenario is so much more brilliant. Love it!

Have a listen and follow along:



The National - Available

Did you clean yourself
for me last night
put the water out and donned a marigold
in your hair to bring me here
and tie one on you

did you dress me down and liquor me up
to make me last for the minute
when the red comes over you
like it does when you're filled with love
or whatever you call it

do you feel alone when I'm in my head
while you wait for me
to take my breath
do you still feel clean
when the only dirt is the dirt I left
how can you blame yourself
when I did everything I wanted to

you just made yourself available
you just made yourself available

why did you dress me down
and liquor me up?

Back Again

It's been a rough few months, with a lot going on. At first, I kind of said goodbye to the blog. A dead medium. A waste of time. A vanity for myself. Nonetheless, I'm drawn back to it.

I think it's because of the reason I started this in the first place - to exorcise demons, in a sense. Note my blog's title, and read Matthew 12:43 to 12:45, describing how the wrong methods of dealing with evil spirits just bring seven times as many, in the end. A point that has always meant a lot to me, irrespective of any religious view.

I never thought I'd want to write so much, but I actually love it. Even when it's little blurbs about music and booze. In between there's some stuff of substance, and I hope someone finds it entertaining. If not, I guess it's all the same to me; like I said, I just like to write.

The Perfect Pina Colada?

Everyone loves a good cold summerftime drink. I've just been given this recipe for the supposedly PERFECT pina colada. I'm going to try it out in a couple of days. Do the same, and let me know what you think.

1 small can of pineapple juice
1/2 can of Goya cream of coconut (or whatever's closest to that name)
1/2 of a banana
1 cup of white rum

Or quadruple it in a blender with ice to make a pitcher - you know the pitcher is the preferred delivery device for any deliciously sweet summertime alcoholic drink.

Heir to the Throne

A good friend recently hypothesized that Jack White is the "Heir to the Throne." I'd never really thought about it before, but I think she's right.